Rocket launcher



F. E. LLOYD ROCKET LAUNCHER July 1l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. ll 1947 PAUL E. LLOYD j@ 9% July 11, 195o Filed Aug. l, 1947 FIG. Z

P. E. LLOYD ROCKE'J;l LAUNCHER l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imaam/tofu.

PAUL E. LLOYD abbe/nw P. E. LLOYD ROCKET LAUNCHER `uly 11, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 PA UL WAL! P. E. LLOYD ROCKET LAUNCHER July ll, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheeil 4 Filed Aug. l, 1947 j Q afm;

Patented July 11, 1950 ROCKET LAUNCHER TPaul E. Lloyd, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to the United States of America as represented by th Secretary of the Navy Application August 1, 1947, Serial No. '765,285k

2 Claims.

This invention relates to launchers for rockets, and more particularly to an extensible rail portable rocket launcher.

An object of the invention is to provide a foldable rocket launcher which is adapted to be quickly set up for operation and is particularly suited for use on irregular terrain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rocket launcher which is light in weight and capable of being folded into a compact bundle approximately the size of the rocket used with the launcher.r

Another object of the invention is to provide a telescoping rocket launching rail for use with a foldable rocket launcher.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable rocket launcher which is light in weight and simple to operate, and which is particularly adaptedfor use with electrically-fired rockets of the type described in the copending patent application of Charles C. Lauritsen, Serial No. 481,645, now Patent No. 2,469,350, filed April 2, 1943.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe followingspeciiication and the accompanyingk drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe launcher assembled for operation, showing the launcher at its extremel angleof elevation in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is the rear elevational view of the launcher assembled for operation, several adjustable positions thereof being indicated by broken lines; I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the launcher rail with the extended portion in op' erating position; y

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line l--ll of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are plan, side elevational, and bottom viewsrespectively, of the launcher in disassembled or stowed condition; and

Fig. 8 is a detailed elevational view of the central portion of the cross member which supports the rear end of the launcher rail.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the launcher includes a launcher rail l, which comprises a bottom cha-nnel member 2 and a top member 2 of sheet ymetal. The longitudinal edges of the top member 3 are bent upwardly to form diverging flanges 5, which denne a channel 4, for guiding a rocket in its initial ight. The longitudinalV side margins of the upturned edges of the top member are bent outwardly and downwardly upon themselves to form outer side Walls 6, which are fastened to the edges of the bottom member 2 by means of screws 2a.

The hollow trough-shaped rail I thus formed is open 4at both ends, and at its forward end receives an extension member 'l of channel form comprising a bottom portion 8 and diverging upturned flanges 9. Near its rear end, the extension member 1 is provided with a leaf spring i!) and a stop member ma. Spring Il! bears against the bottom member 2 to force the rail extension upwardly against the underside of the top member 3 of the rail. `A setl screw H extends into the forward end of the bottom member 2 to force the extension l .tightly against the top plate 3 to restrain the extension from longitudinal movement with respect to the rail l. The limit of outward movementof extension l is deiined by contact of stop Illa with a cooperating stop Ib fastened to the upper side of the bottom member 2 near its forward end. The limit of inward movements of the extension is defined by contact of a flange 'la on the forward end of the extension with the forward end of rail l. Threaded holes 23 in rail l, of which one is shown in Fig. 3, and a threaded hole 2li in the extension 'l are aligned when the extension is in its stowed position for a purpose which will be explained presently.

The rear end of the launcher rail is provided with a ground contact l2 which projects upwardly through the top member 3 and has an undercut forward lip I3 for engagement with the grounded rear tail ring A of a 41/2. rocket R indicated by broken linesy in Figs. 1 and 2. The forward tail lring B of the rocket engages an insulated contact I4 supported within the space between the bottom and top members 2 and 3 by an insulating block l5. The contact lll projects upwardly through a clearance hole I6 in the top member 3 and has upper knife-edges (Fig. 4) for electrical contact engagement with the forward tail ring B of the rocket R. The contacts are connected through a suitable firing cable Il to a magneto-type firing key I8, comprising a small finger operated magneto, and are connected through the tail rings A and B to a squib (not shown) in the rocketl for ring the rocket R. Such rockets are described in more detail in the above-mentioned patent application of Charles C. Lauritsen. The cable I1 is wound around lugs Ha on the bottom of rail 1 when the launcher is stowed.

The rear end of rail l is provided on its under surface with serrated semi-circular sectors la spaced a short distance from a threaded socket I9@ adapted to receive the threaded upper end of the bolt I9 rotatably carried by a semi-circular plate I9b which serves as a keying and pivot member. The plate is slidably mounted in a semi-circular slot 29a. in the central portion of a transverse supporting bar or base member so as to be rotatable through an angle of approximately 60 degrees With relation to the bar. The plate I9b has a pair of upwardly-extending knife-edges I9c which cooperate with the two serrated sectors I a. on the lower surface of the rear end of rail I so as to lock the cross member 20 against rotation with respect to the rail `'when bolt I9 is tightened. The tightening of bolt 'I9 also forces plate I9b into slot 20a Ito hold `the plate and cross member 20 against relative movement. The provisions for relativemovement between cross member 20 and the-rail I vadd ilexibility to the launcher and permit use of the launcher on irregular terrain by lallowing adjusting of the angular relation of .cross bar 20 with respect to the launcher rail.

The bar 2D has spade members .2.I `at each of its .ends pivotally mounted for Yrotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar and also .forrotation from an operating position transverse of the bar as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to a stowed position parallel to the bar as shown in Figs. .5 and 6. The spade members have long and short ground engaging mem-bers 22 which are tapered (Fig. 2) for easier entry .into the gro-und. The shorter members 22 are tapered to approximate the cross-sectional coniiguration of the upper surface of the This shape is of ,advantage when the'bar 20 is stowed, for in `this condition, thespades 2I are pivoted so that the ends of Ythe spades car- .rying the shorter members Z2 are Ipointed inwardly. The shortermembers '22 then lie in the trough shaped rail when the bar 2li vis mounted in the upper trough of the rail by screwing bolt I9 into aligned screw holes 23 and 24. In this position, the longer members 22 .extend downwardly at the ends of the rail as Yshown in'FigS. .5, 6

and '7.

The forward or upper end of the launcher body is provided with a Ylug 25 which pivotally supports an extensible pointed leg member 29 having a penetration limiting plate 2.'I pivotally mounted near its lower end. An opening '21a in plate 2I permits the pointed lower end of leg 2'5 to extend beyond the plate in aground engaging position when the plate is pivoted to a transverse operating position. A screw 260i is provided for locking the leg in various elevational positions. The leg folds into a stowed position against the underside of the launcher rail as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the plate 21 pivoting to lie flat against the lbottom of the rail I.

A gravity pendulum and quadrant unit 29 is hinged to the rail I near its forward `end and folds against the Ybottom of the rail as shown in Fig. 7 Whennot in use.

In use, the .launcher vis transported in the stowed condition `as 4shown in Figs. 5, -6 and 7, in

which crossbar 2.0 is attached to the upper ,side of the rail I by means of bolt I9, the cable II is wound about lugs Ila, the pendulum .and quadrant arrangement is folded against the bottom of the launcher rail, and the lforward leg 28 is folded against the bottom of the launcher .-rail. The firing key I8 is stowed under one of -thespade members 2| between the spade and the .rail I as shown in Figs. 5 and =6. In this condition, the launcher fits within a 41/2" circle and may be carried in the cylindrical packing case of the Llo f oted to operating position.

type used to pack the c11/2" rockets used with the launcher. When so packed, the tube containing the launcher may be grouped with several rockets in their packing tubes and the whole bundle placed in a suitable container which may be conveniently dropped by parachute to ground troops.

`To set up vthe rocket launcher for firing, the rear cross member 20 is removed from the top of the rail by unscrewing bolt I9 and is fastened to the lower rear end of the rail member by screwing bolt I9 into socket I9a in the rail. With the bolt AI9 slightly loosened in the socket I9a, the Vknife-edges I9c are movable with respect to the .serrated sections Ia on the rail and the plate I9b are movable with respect to the serrated sectionsI Ia on the rail and the plate I9b is rotatable with respect to the cross member 20 so that the rail may 'be positioned in train as desired, regardless of the slope of the terrain on which it is used. The adjustable nature of the cross member 29 is shown .clearly in Fig. 2.

The forward supporting member 2B is then unfolded and therpenetration limiting plate 2l piv- The pendulum and quadrant unit 29 is swung down to operating position and the forward leg 2G is adjusted to position the launcher rail at the desired elevation as indicated by the pendulum 29. The extension member I is 'then moved outwardly to its extended position and screw I I tightened to maintain it in 'this position. The cable I1 is unwound and plugged into the magneto-firing key I8, after which a rocket R is positioned on the upper surface of the rail against the ground contact member I2. The rocket is then ready for ring by operationof the ring key IB.

The foldable launcher provides the firepower of a much larger and heavier Weapon of the artillery type and still is light enough and mobile enough to be carried by ground troops over almost any type of terrain or to be transported by aircraft and dropped to ground troops. The launcher is quickly and simply set up and because of its exibility can be used on uneven terrain to great advantage. The transverse rear support adds greatly to the steadiness of the launcher and maintains it in position regardless of the terrain, thereby overcoming the tendency of other launchers to topple over when used on uneven ground. The extensible rail adds greatly to the accuracy of the weapon by providing a considerably longer rocket guide without increasing the size of the folded launcher. The construction of the rail member contributes greatly to the maintaining of the launcher-at a minimum of size and weight.

The compactness of the folded launcher is greatly increased by the provision of a stowage place for each part of the launcher with a minimum number of parts being detached from their ring positions when the launcher is folded.

It is to be understood that the launcher described and shown is a preferred embodiment of the invention and that the invention is not to be limited thereto, but is intended to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: v

1. A collapsible projectile launcher comprising a main projectile guiding rail member, an extension rail member carried by said main rail member and movable between an extended ring position Aand a telescoped position within said main rail member, said main rail member and said extension rail member having threaded open" ings positioned to align when said extension rail member is in said telescoped position, a base member, and a bolt carried by said base member for removably securing said base member to the lower surface of said main rail member, said base member being stowable adjacent the upper side of said main rail member, said bolt being adapted to engage said aligned openings to retain said extension rail member in its telescoped position while at the same time retaining said base member in its stowed position.

2. A projectile launcher comprising a channeled rail for guiding theinitial ight of a projectile, said rail having a serrated section at one end, a member mounted forwardly of said rail for supporting it on an incline, and a rear rail supporting structure from which the incline originates and to which the serrated section is contiguous, said structure including a supporting bar stationed generally crosswise of the rail, said bar having a rounded slot, and a coupling between the supporting bar and the rail consisting 6 of a plate rockable in the slot and provided with a knife edge to occupy the serrated section, and a screw bolt going through the supporting bar, rockable plate and into the rail to clamp them in variously adjusted relative attitudes.

PAUL E. LLOYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Dalte 414,750 Bohnenblust Nov. 12, 1889 499,790 Meadowcroft 1111 June 20, 1893 797,613 Schermuly Aug. 22, 1905 801,252 Koller Oct. 10, 1905 1,096,076 Troxel May 12, 1914 1,139,823 Thomas et al May 18, 1915 1,334,413 Stokes Mar. 23, 1920 1,838,243 r Wismer Dec. 29, 1931 1,919,223 Johnston July 25, 1933 2,264,791 Fries Dec. 2, 1941 

